All losing semifinalists from the Southern Zone Secondary School Rugby Union (SZSSRU) Vodafone Deans competition will now compete for third place.
Zone president Rusiate Wadali explained that the losing teams from the under-15 to under-19 grades will meet this weekend to determine who takes third place in the zone.
However, securing third place does not guarantee their spot in the nationals, as they must go through another playoff stage.
“The two teams that have advanced from the semifinal will face off in the final of the Southern Zone to determine the first and second rankings for the nationals. The losing semifinalists will battle for the third spot. The winner will head to Vanua Levu the week after the finals to compete against the second-placed team from the North,” Wadali explained.
It will be the end of the road for a southern team if they lose in the North during the playoffs, scheduled for the week after next.
“The grades heading to the North are from under-15 to under-19. All our third-place winners from here will clash with the second-best team from all five grades in the North. The winner from there will advance to the nationals. If a team from the North wins the match, they will represent the North in the national quarterfinals,” Wadali added.
The finals of the SZSSRU Vodafone Deans and Weetbix Raluve will be held this weekend at Buckhurst and Bidesi Parks in Laucala Bay, Suva.